IUU Fishing as a National Security Threat: Revisiting India’s Domestic Framework and Compliance with International Regimes

Within India, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing typically has been viewed as a non-traditional security concern that includes food and economic security, as well as broader societal and political issues. This article argues for understanding IUU fishing in a broader and deeper way and to view this issue as a traditional security threat. Several developments merit this approach, including the threat posed by foreign fishing vessels near Indian waters. Such distant water fishing vessels have been found fishing illegally around the world. On several occasions, these vessels are present near the exclusive economic zone of other states, raising serious legal and operational questions. In turn, coastal States have shown varied responses to these vessels ranging from strengthening their maritime security framework to using force and taking military action against these vessels. To confront these challenges, this article recommends revisiting India’s domestic legal and institutional framework on IUU fishing as well as cooperating with the relevant maritime frameworks at the regional and international level. Even though India has strengthened its legal and institutional framework to address its maritime security challenges, this article suggests that joining regimes on IUU fishing can benefit India. The Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) is one such example. The PSMA will bolster India’s attempts to fight IUU fishing by avoiding duplication of resources as well as creating a stronger framework against this threat at the regional and international levels. By revamping its domestic, regional, and international approach to recognize IUU fishing as a traditional and non-traditional national security threat, India will be better equipped to address this challenge

Permutation Flow Shop via Simulated Annealing and NEH

Permutation Flow Shop Scheduling refers to the process of allocating operations of jobs to machines such that an operation starts to process on machine j only after the processing completes in j-1machine. At a time a machine can process only one operation and similarly a job can have only one operation processed at a time. Finding a schedule that minimizes the overall completion times for Permutation Flow Shop problems is NP-Hard if the number of machines is greater than 2. Sowe concentrates on approaches with approximate solutions that are good enough for the problems. Heuristics is one way to find the approximate solutions for a problem. For our thesis, we have used two heuristics - NEH and Simulated Annealing, both individually and in a combined form, to find the solutions for Permutation Flow Shop problems. We have compared NEH and Simulated Annealing algorithm based on result and execution time and also compared the combined algorithm with existing ones. Standard benchmarks are used to evaluate the performances of the implemented algorithm

A Qos Adaptive Routing Scheme (IGLAR) For Highly Dynamic Vehicular Networks with Support to Service and Priority

This paper proposes an improved geolocation based QoS aware routing algorithm (IGLAR), which focuses on identifying optimal paths for effective routing in highly dynamic mobile ad hoc network such as VANET based on vehicular traffic at cross roads over a static high way lane. The process of selection and utilizing the optimal QoS route gets updated on transmission. IGLAR works on route identification, route binding, update and deletion process based on the validation of adaptive QoS metrics, before the optimal route selection process between source and destination. This research work discusses on the survey and analysis the performance of GPSR [9], AODV [8], DYMO [12] and proposed scheme based on simulation test beds and scenario mapping using VanetMobiSim with NS-3 simulator. The proposed routing scheme IGLAR has been designed and implemented as per the DSRC specifications [13] and IEEE 802.11p MAC. Keywords: VANET, GPSR, AODV, DYMO, VanetMobisi

Characterization of Indian and exotic quality protein maize (QPM) and normal maize (Zea mays L.) inbreds using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers

Polymorphism analysis and genetic diversity of normal maize and quality protein maize (QPM) inbreds among locally well adapted germplasm is a prerequisite for hybrid maize breeding program. The diversity analyses of 48 maize accessions including Indian and exotic germplasm using 75 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers yielded 258 scorable alleles, out of which 251 alleles were polymorphic with an average of 3.35 alleles per locus. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values of all the polymorphic primers across the maize genotypes varied from 0.11 to 0.91, with an average value of 0.56. Di-nucleated repeats showed more number of average alleles (4.2) with more mean PIC value (0.61) than tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexa- nucleotide repeats. Gene diversity (He) was in the range of 0.11 (umc1766) to 0.81 (mmc0371 and bnlg1600) with an average value of 0.59, while heterozygosity (Ho) was observed with an average of 0.19, ranging from 0.02 (umc1495) to 0.98 (umc1906). Inbreeding coefficient (F) varied from 0.06 (umc2075) to 1.00 (15 SSR loci). Thus, the present study resulted to the identification of highly polymorphic SSR loci mmc0371, umc2364, umc1568, bnlg1600, phi026, umc2071 and bnlg1904 by considering the parameters of PIC value (≥0.74), gene diversity (≥0.75), inbreeding coefficient (≥0.62) and polymorphic alleles (≥4). These 7 polymorphic primers can be effectively used in a molecular breeding programs and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping studies since they exhibited very high polymorphism over other loci. Genotype pairs VQL 2 and CML 173 was observed to serve as ideal parents for mapping modifiers since they differ significantly for tryptophan content and also showed lowest similarity of 27% between them. Among all the genotypes, V 370 and B 06-7 (22%), V 25 and CM 152 (22%) and V 341 and CM 145 (24%) genotype pairs can be used in maize hybrid breeding programs for producing high yielding hybrids.Key words: Quality protein maize (QPM), gene diversity, heterozygosity, inbreeding coefficient, SSR markers, allele frequency

Investigation of Biochemical Alterations in Ischemic Stroke Using Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging Spectroscopy-A Preliminary Study.

Brain damage, long-term disability and death are the dreadful consequences of ischemic stroke. It causes imbalance in the biochemical constituents that distorts the brain dynamics. Understanding the sub-cellular alterations associated with the stroke will contribute to deeper molecular understanding of brain plasticity and recovery. Current routine approaches examining lipid and protein biochemical changes post stoke can be difficult. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) imaging spectroscopy can play a vital role in detecting these molecular alterations on a sub-cellular level due to its high spatial resolution, accuracy and sensitivity. This study investigates the biochemical and molecular changes in peri-infract zone (PIZ) (contiguous area not completely damaged by stroke) and ipsi-lesional white matter (WM) (right below the stroke and PIZ regions) nine weeks post photothrombotic ischemic stroke in rats. FTIR imaging spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were applied to investigate brain tissue samples while hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained images of adjacent sections were prepared for comparison and examination the morphological changes post stroke. TEM results revealed shearing of myelin sheaths and loss of cell membrane, structure and integrity after ischemic stroke. FTIR results showed that ipsi-lesional PIZ and WM experienced reduction in total protein and total lipid content compared to contra-lesional hemisphere. The lipid/protein ratio reduced in PIZ and adjacent WM indicated lipid peroxidation, which results in lipid chain fragmentation and an increase in olefinic content. Protein structural change is observed in PIZ due to the shift from random coli and α-helical structures to β-sheet conformation. FTIR imaging bio-spectroscopy provide novel biochemical information at sub-cellular levels that be difficult to be obtained by routine approaches. The results suggest that successful therapeutic strategy that is based on administration of anti-oxidant therapy, which could reduce and prevent neurotoxicity by scavenging the lipid peroxidation products. This approach will mitigate tissue damage in chronic ischemic period. FTIR imaging bio-spectroscopy can be used as a powerful tool and offer new approach in stroke and neurodegenerative diseases research

GRFS and CRFS in alternative donor hematopoietic cell transplantation for pediatric patients with acute leukemia.

We report graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-free relapse-free survival (GRFS) (a composite end point of survival without grade III-IV acute GVHD [aGVHD], systemic therapy-requiring chronic GVHD [cGVHD], or relapse) and cGVHD-free relapse-free survival (CRFS) among pediatric patients with acute leukemia (n = 1613) who underwent transplantation with 1 antigen-mismatched (7/8) bone marrow (BM; n = 172) or umbilical cord blood (UCB; n = 1441). Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards models. To account for multiple testing, P \u3c .01 for the donor/graft variable was considered statistically significant. Clinical characteristics were similar between UCB and 7/8 BM recipients, because most had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (62%), 64% received total body irradiation-based conditioning, and 60% received anti-thymocyte globulin or alemtuzumab. Methotrexate-based GVHD prophylaxis was more common with 7/8 BM (79%) than with UCB (15%), in which mycophenolate mofetil was commonly used. The univariate estimates of GRFS and CRFS were 22% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16-29) and 27% (95% CI, 20-34), respectively, with 7/8 BM and 33% (95% CI, 31-36) and 38% (95% CI, 35-40), respectively, with UCB (P \u3c .001). In multivariate analysis, 7/8 BM vs UCB had similar GRFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; 95% CI, 0.87-1.45; P = .39), CRFS (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.82-1.38; P = .66), overall survival (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.80-1.44; P = .66), and relapse (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.03-2.02; P = .03). However, the 7/8 BM group had a significantly higher risk for grade III-IV aGVHD (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.16-2.48; P = .006) compared with the UCB group. UCB and 7/8 BM groups had similar outcomes, as measured by GRFS and CRFS. However, given the higher risk for grade III-IV aGVHD, UCB might be preferred for patients lacking matched donors. © 2019 American Society of Hematology. All rights reserved

LEARN: A multi-centre, cross-sectional evaluation of Urology teaching in UK medical schools

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the status of UK undergraduate urology teaching against the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Undergraduate Syllabus for Urology. Secondary objectives included evaluating the type and quantity of teaching provided, the reported performance rate of General Medical Council (GMC)-mandated urological procedures, and the proportion of undergraduates considering urology as a career. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LEARN was a national multicentre cross-sectional study. Year 2 to Year 5 medical students and FY1 doctors were invited to complete a survey between 3rd October and 20th December 2020, retrospectively assessing the urology teaching received to date. Results are reported according to the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES). RESULTS: 7,063/8,346 (84.6%) responses from all 39 UK medical schools were included; 1,127/7,063 (16.0%) were from Foundation Year (FY) 1 doctors, who reported that the most frequently taught topics in undergraduate training were on urinary tract infection (96.5%), acute kidney injury (95.9%) and haematuria (94.4%). The most infrequently taught topics were male urinary incontinence (59.4%), male infertility (52.4%) and erectile dysfunction (43.8%). Male and female catheterisation on patients as undergraduates was performed by 92.1% and 73.0% of FY1 doctors respectively, and 16.9% had considered a career in urology. Theory based teaching was mainly prevalent in the early years of medical school, with clinical skills teaching, and clinical placements in the later years of medical school. 20.1% of FY1 doctors reported no undergraduate clinical attachment in urology. CONCLUSION: LEARN is the largest ever evaluation of undergraduate urology teaching. In the UK, teaching seemed satisfactory as evaluated by the BAUS undergraduate syllabus. However, many students report having no clinical attachments in Urology and some newly qualified doctors report never having inserted a catheter, which is a GMC mandated requirement. We recommend a greater emphasis on undergraduate clinical exposure to urology and stricter adherence to GMC mandated procedures

Risk Factors for Graft-versus-Host Disease in Haploidentical Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Using Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide

Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has significantly increased the successful use of haploidentical donors with a relatively low incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Given its increasing use, we sought to determine risk factors for GVHD after haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT) using PTCy. Data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research on adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, or chronic myeloid leukemia who underwent PTCy-based haplo-HCT (2013 to 2016) were analyzed and categorized into 4 groups based on myeloablative (MA) or reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) and bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood (PB) graft source. In total, 646 patients were identified (MA-BM = 79, MA-PB = 183, RIC-BM = 192, RIC-PB = 192). The incidence of grade 2 to 4 acute GVHD at 6 months was highest in MA-PB (44%), followed by RIC-PB (36%), MA-BM (36%), and RIC-BM (30%) (P = .002). The incidence of chronic GVHD at 1 year was 40%, 34%, 24%, and 20%, respectively (P < .001). In multivariable analysis, there was no impact of stem cell source or conditioning regimen on grade 2 to 4 acute GVHD; however, older donor age (30 to 49 versus <29 years) was significantly associated with higher rates of grade 2 to 4 acute GVHD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 2.12; P = .01). In contrast, PB compared to BM as a stem cell source was a significant risk factor for the development of chronic GVHD (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.11 to 2.62; P = .01) in the RIC setting. There were no differences in relapse or overall survival between groups. Donor age and graft source are risk factors for acute and chronic GVHD, respectively, after PTCy-based haplo-HCT. Our results indicate that in RIC haplo-HCT, the risk of chronic GVHD is higher with PB stem cells, without any difference in relapse or overall survival

Differentiation of self and marital adjustment within the Asian Indian American population

Includes bibliographical references